Autoivsatic gang-trimmer



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. B. ST. LOUIS.

AUTOMATIC GANG TMA/AMER'.

(No Model.)

No. 887,804.' PmntedAug. 7, 1888.

Fifa.

Jj. MAMA@ MM N4 PUERS. PnomALimogmpher, wnhingmn. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.V

(Nd Model.) v

J. B. ST. LOUIS. AUTOMATIC GANG TRIMMER. No'. 387,604. Patented Aug. 7.1888. l

l v lg w u; EN I l I |l mmjy i@ u El l I nml n a l u u;

m11 HL iL l sf JW "mi HH un. WHL I 1 1@ 7 lll W 8 l lulu*r IINrrn @rares .TOI-IN B. ST. LOUIS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

AUTOVlATlC GANG-TRIMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,604, dated August 7, 1888.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JonN B. ST. Louis, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gang- Trimmers, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic gang lumber-trimmers; and it consists, generally, in a machine of this class in which all or any of the trimmingsaws will be thrown out of operation by the lumber as it advances, thus making the machine automatic in its action and adaptingitto trim lumber of varying lengths.

My invention further consists in a flexible metallic beltfccd for conveying the lumber to the saws.

My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter de scribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a cross-section of a lui'nbcr-trimming machine with my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the machine, showing the construction of the device for moving the saws. Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion ol my improved feed-belt. Fig. 4is a side elevation ol Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan of the machine. Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the valve.

ln the drawings, 2 represents the frame of the trimmer, constructed in the ordinary way.

4 represents the adjustable cut -ol't saws, each mounted upon an arbor, 5, revolving in journal-boxes 6 and driven by a belt on the pulley S. The journatboxes are secured to an oscillating frame, 10, which swings upon a pin or shaft, l2, secured to an adjustable fulerum, 14. The frame l() may also be provided with a lever, 16, which extends to the front of the machine, and is preferably provided with a treadle, 18, by which any one of the saws maybe independently operated by the foot, if

desired, and placed in position to cut oft the lumber. I prefer to attach a yoke, 20, to the j onrnal-boxes 5,whieh extends below the said boxes and terminates in the lugs or jaws 22. These jaws arc .bored to receive a pin, 24, which passes through them and through the upper end ofthe connecting-rod 2G.

28 represents a cylinder having a piston, 30, fitted closely to its interior and provided with a port, 31, which enters the bore of the cylinder beneath the piston. The piston is preferably made solid, and its upper extremity is connected by a knuckle-joint, 32, to the conneetingrod 26.

The port 31 is preferably adapted to receive a pipe, 84, which is provided with athreeway Valve, 3G,which is preferably constructed with an outer case, 38, provided with the inlet-port 40 and exhaust-port 42. The interior of this valve is bored to Ytit a plug or rotary valve, 44, having recesses 4G and 48 formed in its opposite walls.

When the valve is turned in one direction, the recess 46 covers the inletport 40 and the opening to the pipe 34, thus completing the inlet to the cylinder for the steam or other motive power. lVhen the valve 44 is turned in the opposite direction, the inlet-pipe is closed, and the recess 4S covers the exhaustport 42 and the pipe 34, and completes an opening Vfrom the cylinder to the open air. By this means the pressure in the cylinder will be relieved.

50 represents a bar hinged to the frame2 at a point at the rear ofthe saw. This bar is 1ocated so that its front end will be above the level ol the top ot' the frame, and is beveled or rounded toward the front, so that the advancing lumber will pass over and depress it. A rod, 52, serves to connect the bar 50 with a lever, 54, upon the rotary valve 44. A spring, 56, is secured to the frame and acts upon a collar, 58, upon the rod 52, in order to keep thc bar 50 raised when thercis no pressure brought to bear upon it by the advancing lumber. The connection with the valve 44 is such that when the bar 50 is raised the inlet-port to the cylinder 2S will be open, and when the bar-is depressed the inlet-port will bc closed and the exhaust-port open.

In machines of this class it is difficult to secure the required tension upon the belts which shown a means for readily accomplishing this result. I form a plate, 59, at the base of the fulerum I4, upon which the said fulerum slides, and pass a screw-threaded rod, 60, through a lug or projection, 62, on the said plate, and connect it with the body of the fuldrive the saws, and in my improvement I have Crum. The rod G0 is preferably passed out to the front of the machine and provided lwith a hand-wheel, (53, by which it is turned. By turning the handwheel the fulcrum and sawframe att-ached thereto are moved forward or back, and any desired tension can be placed upon the belt. The longitudinal position of the bar 50 is preferably at some distance from the saw which it operates, so that a variation in the length of the boards will not interfere with the working of the device. The boards are conveyed to the machines and are received by the feed chains or belts and are advanced up the inclined top of the machine. \Vhen the board comes in contact with the bar 50, the weight of the board will depress the said bar and force down the rod 52against the tension of thespring. This operation rotates the valve t4 and closes the steam-port and opens the exhaust-port- W'hen the steam is eX- hansted from the cylinder, the weight of the frame and saw will cause the piston to travel downward in the cylinder. lhis will carry the saw attached to this piston below the suru face ofthe table, and the hnnber will pass over the saw without being cut. This will oeeur to as many of the saws as would come in contact with the body of the board. At the end of the board the ba '50 will not be struck by the board, and the valve in this case will not be operated. The pressure in the cylinder will hold the saw up and the board will be trimmed.

The link or chain belts ordinarily used for feed devices iu machines of this class are expensive and euntbersome, and in my machine ll have constructed a feed-belt which is simple, light, and inexpensive. I place sprocket wheels at the front and back of the machine in the ordinary manner. These sprockets are formed to receive an endless metallic band, 7, and are provided with flanges Gti at cach side of said band, which have recesses or notches eut into their outer circumference to receive the bars 70, attached at given intervals to the belt. rlhese bars are preferably formed of two sections of half-round iron, that extend a sufficient distance over the edge of the belt to engage the flanges of the sprockets and are riveted to the band.

72 represents brackets secured to one of the half-round bars and extending upward there Vfrom for the purpose of engaging and moving the lumber.

I claim as my invention-fl l. The combination, in a lumber-trimmer, of an adjustable frame, a saw mounted therei n7 a steam'cylimlcr for adjusting said frame, a valve controlling the supply of steam to said cylinder, and a movable bar connected with said valve and arranged on the machine in the path of the moving lumber, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a lumber-trimmer7 of a series of adjustable frames, saws mounted in said frames, steam-cylinders, valves eontrolling the supply of steam to said cylinders, pistons in said cylinders connected with said frames7 and movable bars 50, arranged on the frame of said machine in proximity to said saws and connected with said valves, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a lnmber-trimmer, with the frame 2, of the pivoted frame l0, the saw mounted therein, the steanrcylimler, the piston arranged in said cylinder and connected with said frame, the steam-valve, and the operating-intr 50, mounted on said frame 2 and connected with said valve, substantially as set forth.

ai. The combination, in a lumbertrimmer, with the frame 2, ofthe frame lt), mounted on a pivot, l2, means for adjusting said pivot, the saw mounted in said frame l0, the steamcylinder, and the piston arranged in said cylinder and connected with said frame lt),` substantially as set forth.

5. rlhe combination, in a lumber-triuniting machine,with the frame 2,ofthe pivoted frame lt), the yoke 20, secured thereto, the saw mounted in said yoke, thesteanrcylinder, the piston connected with said yoke, the valve con trolling the admission of steam to said cylinder, and the bar 50, mounted on the frame 2 and connected with said valve, for the purpose set forth.

(l. The combination, in a lnmller-triminer, with the frame 2 and the saws fl, of the sprocket-wheels 65, having the not ehcd flanges G9, the bands (57, having the bars secured thereto and fitting the notches in said flanges, and the carriers 72, secured to said bars, sul` stantiall y as described.

7. The lu mberlcarrier consisting ofthe flexible metallic bands (57, having the half-round bars 70 secured upon opposite sides thereof, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 28th day ot'June, 1887.

.TOI-IN B. S'I?. LOUIS.

In presence of lt. lt. Santoni), A. C. liter.. 

